Tavern Culture Series: American Spirit(s) - A History of Rum

Featuring Frank Dean, owner of 1928 Cocktail Club

March 27, 2026 · 7 p.m.
Garden House
$20; $12/members

KTM&HC's program series Tavern Culture: One Sip at a Time combines lively programming with food and drink tastings – bringing historic tavern culture to life, all year round.

Sit down with food, drink, and history experts to discuss fascinating connections between 18th- and 19th-century tavern culinary traditions and our own 21st-century practices. Hear from brewers, scholars, and tastemakers as they shed light on the importance of food and drink in American culture - and taste the evidence for yourself, as each conversation is paired with a live drink-making and sampling experience.

On March 27, join KTM&HC Chief Curator Catherine Prescott and Frank Dean, co-owner of 1928 Cocktail Club in Branford, as they discuss rum-drinking in American culture, from the Revolution to Prohibition to today.

The program includes a drink demonstration, and attendees will sample hand-crafted cocktails that represent historic and modern-day rum-drinking practices.

Tickets are on sale now - and KTM&HC members receive a 40% discount! Attendees must be 21 or older.

KTM&HC's Tavern Culture: One Sip at a Time series is funded by the Sarah Tod Fundand the Wadsworth R. Lewis Trust Fund.

Frank Dean is a craft cocktail educator, hospitality consultant, and the co-owner and co-founder of 1928 Cocktail Club, a modern speakeasy inspired by the craftsmanship and culture of the late Prohibition era.

With a deep passion for classic cocktails, thoughtful design, and elevated hospitality, Frank built 1928 as more than just a bar - but as a space centered on education, storytelling, and community. Known for blending timeless technique with contemporary creativity, he continues to push cocktail culture forward while honoring its history.